A gentleman brings a basket of books to the checkout . . .
“Do you have the 50 percent off deal?” he asks.
The clerk looks genuinely confused.
“No,” he says. “Nice try, though.”
“I thought it was through the end of the year.”
“Are you on the mailing list?”
“Yes.”
“That’s 25 percent off.”
“Oh. Why am I thinking it was 50? Maybe I’m on a special mailing list that gets 50 percent off.”
“Maybe you’re on the special list that pays 50 percent more.”
